||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT |||
Since the last update on Friday September 10, there have been four new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current total case count is now 292. Of these four new cases, initial investigations indicate that two appear to have occurred in fully vaccinated individuals. There are approximately three unvaccinated close contacts of positive cases who are currently in two-week quarantine. Note that vaccinated close contacts do NOT need to quarantine and this number would be far higher if not for the high vaccination rate in San Juan County.
- LOPEZ ISLAND: There is one new case on Lopez Island since the last update. There are two positive cases under active monitoring on Lopez Island.
- ORCAS ISLAND: There are no new cases on Orcas Island since the last update. There are four positive cases under active monitoring on Orcas Island.
- SAN JUAN ISLAND: There are three new cases on San Juan Island since the last update. There are three positive cases under active monitoring on San Juan Island.
- SHAW ISLAND: There are no new cases on Shaw Island since the last update. There are no positive cases under active monitoring on Shaw Island.
- OUTER ISLANDS: There are no new cases in the outer islands since the last update. There are no positive cases under active monitoring in the outer islands. Note that specific outer island will not be named to help maintain patient privacy given the small resident population on the outer islands.
OVERALL SITUATION
It is far too early to think we’re past the hump, but for the first-time cases are showing signs of declining in the islands and case trends are also heading down across Washington and the United States. This is welcome news.
Remember though- overall case and hospitalization rates are as nearly as high as they have been since the beginning of the pandemic. For now, Washington hospitals remain stretched to capacity. If you are unvaccinated, your risk of becoming infected is as great as it has been at any time during this crisis.
The likely reality is that restrictions to limit disease spread will remain in place for some time. Vaccination requirements are becoming increasingly common in workplaces, entertainment events, restaurants, to travel, and other settings. Even though the islands boast a high vaccination rate, thousands of islanders have chosen to remain unvaccinated. And the situation is even more concerning in nearly all other jurisdictions. The reservoir of unvaccinated individuals is so large that spikes of disease that overwhelm our healthcare system will continue to be a concern for the foreseeable future.
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It’s remarkable that San Juan County has had only 10 Covid hospitalizations so far, the best record of any county in WA state, and absolutely NO DEATHS, which no other county can claim. This is the safest place in the state, if not the entire nation.
Michael, I believe we are only one of 34 counties in the country with no deaths and the most populated to achieve this. The County and our people should be proud of our diligence. Respect.
Yes, I believe that our sense of community and concern for one another is a good part of our success, which I wrote about in Orcas Currents in my article “Coronavirus and Community.” But another part has to be the diligent work of our county officials, particularly in the department of health. They feed on one another.